An Australian father recounted the moment that he discovered his daughter's lifeless body buried on a beach as he talked in court during the trial of the suspected killer.
The father, Troy Cordingley, detailed on Feb. 26, 2025, how his daughter, 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, was found dead on Wangetti Beach in Far North Queensland on Oct. 22, 2018. It is believed that the victim was killed a day before the discovery of her body as she went missing while walking her dog.
The Murder of Toyah Cordingley
The suspect in the case is 40-year-old Rajwinder Singh, who is standing trial and has pleaded not guilty to Toyah's murder. The father recalled looking for his daughter a day after she went missing, revealing in court that he was resting under trees when he noticed an unusual mound in the sand.
He told the jury that he then dropped down to his knees and started scooping up the sand, noting that after the third scoop, he found a foot. At that moment, Troy reeled back and became horrified. He then called for help to uncover the body, according to People.
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Dr. Paul Botterill, a forensic pathologist, told the jury that the victim suffered an "extraordinarily deep" 17-centimeter-long neck wound. The medical professional added that Toyah had multiple injuries to her abdomen, chest, and fingers.
Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane suggested that the victim could have been buried alive by her attacker, saying that she was placed under the sand "shortly before or after her death." Crane noted that Toyah was left with her injuries and no hope of survival.
Finding the Victim's Body
During the trial, the jury was also told that the victim's phone was roughly located in multiple areas that corresponded to a blue Alpha Romeo sedan that was recorded on several CCTV cameras heading to Lake Placid Holiday Apartments, The Canberra Times reported.
Crane added that Toyah's vehicle has features of its color and noted a distinctive grille. The jury was then shown images of Mount Troy, which Troy discovered on the beach when he was looking for his daughter.
While this was happening, Singh, who sat in the dock with his hands clasped in his lap, turned his head down and did not look at the images that were being displayed on a large screen. Crane noted that a stick was found partially buried alongside Toyah.
The crown prosecutor said that the defendant was 3.7 billion times more likely to contribute the DNA found on that particular stick. Officials also found a male DNA sample on Toyah's fingernails that was 2,000 times more likely to be from Singh than a random man, as per the Brisbane Times.
